Iraqi PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi says, early elections to be held on June 6, 2021
On May 6, al-Kadhimi was sworn in as the new prime minister in Iraq, following the approval of the parliament on most of his cabinet members.
On May 6, al-Kadhimi was sworn in as the new prime minister in Iraq, following the approval of the parliament on most of his cabinet members.
Abel Abdel Mahdi resigned last month as Prime Minister after pressure from protests.
Anti-government demonstrators burned tyres in major cities across the south, forcing the closure of schools and government buildings.
Pence affirmed his country's support for "the stability of Iraq and the aspirations of Iraqis for reform and peace, as well as the renunciation of violence," the statement further said.
The attackers entered the area in a convoy of four-wheel drive vehicles and shot at those gathered for the demo.
Earlier on Friday, thousands of people were in Tahrir Square again to make it clear that the demands of protesters go far beyond the replacement of one prime minister with another.
The curfew reduction is intended to give more time for the protesters to return home, the statement said.
Security force members were among the causalities, the interior ministry said, while denying that police have used live ammunition against protesters.
"Most of the casualties occurred as a result of gunshot wounds, tear gas and rubber bullets," the statement further said.
It is the deadliest unrest since the so-called Islamic State (IS) group was declared defeated in Iraq in 2017.
